First Report of Taenia Pisiformis Cysticercus Infestation in Domestic Rabbits in Hajjah City Yemen

ISSN: 2640-7604 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17352/ijvsr LIFE SCIENCES GROUP

Received: 02 November, 2020 Case Study Accepted: 30 November, 2020 Published: 01 December, 2020

*Corresponding author: Nabil M Mogalli, First report of Taenia pisiformis Department of Biology, Hajjah University, Yemen, Tel: 00967772423369; E-mail: Cysticercus infestation in ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1845-986X Keywords: Taenia pisiformis; Cysticercosis; Domestic rabbits in Hajjah city Histopathology; Rabbit; Yemen https://www.peertechz.com Yemen Nabil M Mogalli*

Department of Biology, Hajjah University, Yemen

Abstract

Cysticercus pisiformis is larval forms of Taenia pisiformis tapeworm. t has been observed in rabbits that are considered the intermediate host. In this study Cysticercus pisiformis was observed in domestic rabbits at routine necropsy examination. Cysticercus pisiformis was observed in 23 (76.7) out of 30 (23.3%) of domestic rabbits of both sexes was 2 months – 2 years old. the Parasites were observed only in July2018 and February 2020. After noticing the changes in the shape of the liver, which appeared in white to cream cysts were ranging from 3– 8 mm in diameter and varying in sizes, The aim of this study was to identify, which is the causative of these changes in the liver and the nature of cysts developing around the stomach and what organisms belong to them, as well as the preparation of tissue sections of the liver to study histopathological changes. Our results revealed, several cysts were found around the stomach and viscera. morphological form of these cysts depicted the presence of Cysticercus pisiformis of Taenia pisiformis and the larval stage was also seen moving near the diaphragm. Gross and histopathological examination revealed that liver was the most severely affected organ. Varying degrees of focal necrosis, hepatocellular degeneration, infl ammation associated with viable and degenerated cysts were observed in the liver. Degenerated cysts revealed varying degrees of dystrophic calcifi cation. Our results revealed, (23) were infected (76.6%) of Cysticercus pisiformis of adult parasite Taenia pisiformis it is the fi rst report in Hajjah / Yemen.

Introduction Cysticercus pisiformis. Which consider as Parasite on rabbit farms and it is pathogenic parasite among parasites Taenia Rabbits are mammals, found in in many regions of the pisiformis (Cestoidea; Cyclophyllidea; Taeniidae. Commonly world. Rabbits are infected with a range of parasites varying called rabbit tapeworm, can be found all over the world [3,4] from ectoparasites, protozoans, and helminths. and it is a tapeworm parasitizes internally and causes infection and matures in the small intestine of canids and felines [5,6]. Parasites infesting Rabbits lead to large losses in rabbits, and those losses are related to the number of parasites The infection is transmitted to the Rabbits (intermediate responsible for the disease [1]. hosts) by eating the herb contaminated with the stool of the fi nal hosts where pass the egg-laden proglottid phase in their Helminth infection causes greater bifurcation with a feces. Once ingested, the egg hatches and the hexacanth embryo signifi cant effect on this animal, when present in a suffi cient enters the wall of the intestine and migrates to its organ of number, it can cause a signifi cant decrease in weight gain, loss choice via the portal veins then grows and differentiateson of appetite, diarrhea, weakness, low productivity, morbidity, cavitates to form the second larval stage which consists of a fl uid-fi lled bladder with a scolex called a cysticercus or as and even deaths. Cysticercus pisiformis (Schoeb, et al. 2007).This second larval Protozoans infection such as Eimeria, are associated with stage is also often called bladderworm and forms (2–4) weeks morbidity and mortality this lead to economic losses in rabbit following ingestion [7]. farming, growth retardation and condemnation of affected The cysticercus stage encysts on the liver capsule or other livers in cases of hepatic coccidiosis [2]. abdominal serosal surfaces (Schoeb, et al. 2007) and can cause

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Citation: Mogalli NM (2020) First report of Taenia pisiformis Cysticercus infestation in Domestic rabbits in Hajjah city Yemen. Int J Vet Sci Res 6(2): 159-163. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17352/ijvsr.000068 https://www.peertechz.com/journals/international-journal-of-veterinary-science-and-research severe health problems in rabbits, such as digestive disorders, interspersed with prominent white streaks (width, 2 to 4 mm) and secondary bacterial infestation, liver lesions, resulting in Some livers of rabbits appear to have shapes in the form of economic losses in the rabbit breeding industry [8]. Cysticercus spots distributed in different parts of the liver, while others pisiformis is swallowed by the deﬁ nitive host when it feeds on have large areas or fusiform spots that show a change in color the infected organs of rabbits with C. pisiformis [9]. and shape (Figure 2).

Parasitism is of great concern to the production, reproduction Moving larvae of T. pisiformis were observed in infected and performance of man and animals (Shola D, et al. 2018) rabbits in different numbers in the abdominal cavity between infection with T. pisiformis altered behavioral and productive the viscera and around the stomach and the side of the parameters, and obesity magniﬁ es the impact caused by the diaphragm and liver, which appeared in white color length of 1 infection. Also, obesity leads to major susceptibility to infection cm (Figure 3). The larvae was also observed at the beginning of with T. pisiformis [10]. Infected with T. pisiformis metacestodes the encystation phase on the stomach serosal surfaces Figure 4. are more frequently in female rabbits than males [11].

This study appears to be the ﬁ rst to be conducted in the northwestern part of Yemen. As these parasites have not been documented before in northwestern Yemen. Proper management of the prevention, control and elimination of these diseases will improve rabbit production and reproduction to achieve better proﬁ tability for farmers and increase the availability of protein sources for consumers.

The aim of this study was to determine the cause of the Figure 1: Multifocal hepatic cysts (arrows) contain 23 cysts of cysticercus pisiformis altered changes in the liver and the nature of the cysts that A, and eight B. develop around the stomach and what organisms they belong to, as well as preparing sections of liver tissue to study tissue changes. Materials and methods

In July2018 and February 2020, when we were working on anatomy of rabbits, we found calciﬁ cations in the liver and cysts around the stomach and moving larvae. in most rabbits that were studied. and after research and investigation we know it is Cysticercus pisiformis.

Cysticercosis was studied in Domestic rabbits. Gross Figure 2: White spots in the liver of rabbits caused by Taenia pisiformis larvae. A. lesions were noted. Tissue pieces from liver were collected and Liver with two spots in different lobes B. fusiform spots in the liver fi xed in 10% formalin, embedded in paraffi n wax, and fi ve- micron sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for histological examination. Histological sections of tissues with the most interesting fi ndings were photographed. Photomicrograph was done using cell phone and OLYMPUS microscope CX31. Results Clinical history

The rabbits suffered from xanthoderma prolonged illness Figure 3: Larva of Taenia pisiformis. with depression, weakness and palour of mucous membranes.

Necropsy ﬁ ndings

On necropsy, 23 rabbits revealed cystic disease. the external mucous membranes were pale. Several oval cysts (varying sizes from 6 mm to 1 cm) were found either attached to the omentum to form of clusters, between the diaphragm and the viscera and visceral surfaces of liver or fl oating free in the peritoneal cavity. Each cyst contained clear fl uid and a single white spot. Cysts were identifi ed as the Taenia pisiformis cyst Figure 1.

The liver was ﬁ rm and contained scattered creamish Figure 4: Larvae at the beginning of the encystation on the stomach serosal to white in colour and ranged from 3–18 mm in diameter, surfaces, B. Larvae after removed from the stomach serosal surfaces 160

Microscopic ﬁ ndings

The liver revealed varying degrees of hepatitis, hepatic cellular degeneration, and necrosis. Degenerative changes ranged from cellular / cloudy swelling to eosinophilia with cytoplasmic granulation and spatial changes. Subsequently, the nucleus of the hepatocytes was compressed toward the periphery, and the cytoplasm is represented by one peripheral margin.

Multifocal areas of focal hepatic necrosis were observed with aggregation of lymphocytic and inﬁ ltration also, a few macrophages and giant cell Figure 5. Figure 7: Hyperplasia of the epithelial cells of the biliary duct in liver infected rabbits Most of the spaces were empty and has hepatocellular (H E 40X). degradation and fatty changes have also been observed, steatosis and fatty degeneration Figure 6. one of the phases of Taenia pisiformis tapeworm that has not been documented in Yemen and neighboring country also there Hyperplasia was also detection in the biliary duct of the is no published study on infection in domestic or wild rabbit liver Figure 7. available in Yemen. then the percent study is the ﬁ rst study of Discussion T. pisiformis in yemen.

In most rabbits that were studied in July 2018 and In this study the Cysticercus pisiformis have been observed February 2020, when performing routine anatomy of rabbits, in rabbits in speciﬁ c periods of the year they were represented calciﬁ cations were found in the liver and cyst hanging around in the spring between July and February. the stomach and viscera, and larvae were also seen moving in Several oval cysts were found attached to different site of the abdominal cavity.. The reason for this was due to rabbits abdominal cavity this is consistent with many of the reports being infected with Cysticercus pisiformis of T. pisiformis M.S. Mir, et al. 2006. parasites. Which migrated through the parenchyma and then enter Our results revealed the present of Cysticercus pisiformis in the abdominal cavity where it is attached to the serous surfaces 23 (76.7) out of 30 (23.3%) of domestic rabbits which consider (smyth, JD et al. 1998). The most common clinical symptom is the presence of mature cysticerci within the abdominal cavity the results are considered accidental, if the infection is not severe, as mentioned by [12].

The metacestode of T. pisiformis has been considered one of the most important true migratory parasites in rabbits with an infection rate of 2.2 to 51.3% in commercial / domestic rabbits [13,14]. and female rabbits are more frequently infected with T. pisiformis metacestodes than males [11].

Oval cysts were found attached to the omentum to form of clusters, between the diaphragm and the viscera and visceral Figure 5: Photomicrograph from rabbit’s liver showing focal hepatic necrosis (black arrow) and infi ltration in lymphocytic of liver tissues (red arrows) (Heamatoxylin surfaces of liver or fl oating free in the peritoneal cavity the and Eosin 40X). observations in this study are consistent with those of Singh, et al. [15] and Myers, et al. 2006 who reported a vesicular cyst attached to the viscera, as well as fl oating in the peritoneum [15].

The severity of the affected was varied in the liver that occur due to entry of oncospheres Mir m s, et al. (2006) mentions to a relationship between the liver and the development and migration of the Taenia pisiformis metacestodes. When examining the morphological infected liver in our study, the liver was enlarged with multiple linear ﬁ brous tracks and it was found that the rabbits that have a severe infection, the liver was changing in color and contains a large area of the Vesicles, while rabbits that have a slight infection the color change and Figure 6: Photomicrograph from rabbit’s liver showing steatosis and fatty the area of infection was few. degeneration (black arrow) and hepatocellular degradation (red arrows) (H E 40X). 161

Similar changes have been reported by Kumar, et al. [16]; 6. Jia WZ, Yan HB, Guo AJ, Zhu XQ, Wang YC, et al. (2010) Complete mitochondrial genomes of Taenia multiceps, T. hydatigena and T. pisiformis: Singla, et al. [17] who indicated that the metacestode stage additional molecular markers for a tapeworm genus of human and animal caused signifi cant hepatic destruction and gastroenteropathy health signifi cance. BMC Genomics 11: 447. Link: https://bit.ly/3mqY9Dv in intermediate host [16,17]. 7. Foronda P, Valladares B, Lorenzo-Morales J, Ribas A, Feliu C, et al. (2003) Histopathological study, it was revealed that there was Helminths of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Macaronesia. J tissue damage in the liver. After a microscopic examination, Parasitol 89: 952-957. Link: https://bit.ly/2JtHCQv it was found that there was showed numerous discrete to 8. Zhou YX, Du AF, Zhang XJ, Wu YM, Tong FY, et al. (2008) Research of coalescing granulomas containing substantial intact and harmfulness of Cysticercus pisiformis in rabbit. Journal of Zhejiang degenerate parasites This was similar to Graham-Brown J, Agricultural Science 3: 372-373. et al. [18] observations [18]. Also there was cellular and fatty 9. Sun X, Luo X, Wang X, Cai XP (2008) Observation of the organizational degradation and infi ltration which is in confi rm with Singla’s, structure of Cysticercus pisiformis and Taenia pisiformis scolex. Chinese et al. [19] Al-Najjar, et al. [20] and Aman D Moudgil, et al. 2016 Veterinary Science 38: 796-800. Link: https://bit.ly/3lmWoWt [21] observation. Their histopathological study of the affected 10. Arias-Hernández D, Flores-Pérez FI, Domínguez-Roldan R, Báez-Saldaña A, liver showed the presence of fatty changes and infi ltration of Carreon RA, et al. 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